Readings: Ecclesiasticus 38.24–end and Hebrews 8
Tonight’s readings ask us to contemplate the role and function of priests
within our church communities. Which is
not a bad thing to do when we have a deacon in training to become a priest in
about 11 months time!
Our first reading, from the apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus, describes
the process by which a scribe becomes wise.
The Scribes of the bible were analogous to the Readers and Deacons of
today. They were learned men (and it was
only men in those days) who could both read and scribe the holy
scriptures. And they were meant to be
wise men, to whom others could turn for advice about how to live in accordance
with God’s laws.
But, the writer of Ecclesiasticus warns us, ‘the wisdom of the scribe depends
on the opportunity of leisure; only the
one who has little business can become wise’.
He goes on to draw parallels with farmers, master artisans, blacksmiths,
and potters – each devoted completely to the skilful pursuit of their
tasks. The writer does not denigrate
such professions – in fact he praises them for their attention to detail, and
the skill of their hands and craft. But
he does say ‘how can one become wise who handles the plough’. Wisdom, you see, takes time to acquire.
Of course, we can all pick up a bit of wisdom here and there –
especially in these days of extended rest, five day working weeks, and long
retirements. Such luxuries of time were
unknown to the people of Bible times.
But to truly acquire deep wisdom takes time. It takes and application of effort which is similar
to that of the farmer, the blacksmith or the potter. But it is the application of the mind, rather
than of the hands.
This is of course especially true of priests. I count myself among the more fortunate
priests of my acquaintance – quite simply because I have such a large team of
colleagues around me, including our retired clergy, our amazing volunteers and
PCC members, and our inestimably important paid staff. Unlike many parish clergy, I actually DO
have the time to pursue at least some
diligent training in wisdom – in the hope that I can offer some of it back to
you.
I’m reminded of an analogy by Eugene Peterson, translator of the
Message Bible. He likened the role of a
pastor to that of a harpooner in an old whaling boat. I hope you will forgive the analogy, since
whale hunting is clearly an awful thing.
But Peterson says that the pastor of a congregation is called to be like
the harpooner – settled into the prow of the boat, ready to strike with his
harpoon when the time is right. All his
fellows are straining against the oars, chasing the whale with all their
might. But all their efforts will be in
vain if the harpooner is not ready at precisely the right moment to throw his
spear. It would be pointless to the entire
endeavour if the harpooner was exhausted by also rowing the boat. The successful harpooner rises out of rest,
even indolence, to throw his harpoon.
This then should be the mindset that we should expect of our priests. Many of you today come from other parishes,
where perhaps you observe your own parish priest rushing around, day after day,
getting enmeshed and involved in every detail of parish life. They are expected to be at every meeting,
every event, and to visit every sick person in the parish, and to answer every
email, phone call or text message within a few hours – or risk being called
lazy by their congregation. To each of
you, from other parishes, I give you this charge: go back to your parish, and encourage your
priest to be like the harpooner. Give
them the permission, and the support they will need to be capable of rest, and
capable of absorbing wisdom – precisely so that they will be able to offer it,
at the right time, whenever it is needed.
All parishes, all groups of people, need harpooners as well as rowers –
or they risk rowing round and round in circles, and never catching that whale.
The focus of our second reading is on the liturgical role of the
priest. We draw our unique calling from
the model and example of Christ – who the writer to the Hebrews calls our ‘great
high priest’. He is ‘a minister in the
sanctuary and the true tent that the Lord (and not any mortal) has set up at
the right hand of God’. We human
priests, on the earth below, offer our sacrifices in a sanctuary which the
writer calls ‘a sketch and a shadow’ of the heavenly one. And we do well to remember this – when, or
if, we ever tempted get bigger than our boots, and to start ‘Lording’ it over
our flock. Priests on earth have an
immense privilege – of being vicars of Christ.
And we carry an immense responsibility – of shepherding and caring for our
flocks, with wisdom. So please pray that
we find the time to be wise in the fulfilment of those duties.
But, we are wise if we note that the old system of earthly priests,
celebrating in a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary is one that is
passing away. Rather, as St Paul taught
his followers, all believers are called to be ‘priests’. The writer to the Hebrews states in under the
terms of Jesus’ new covenant, God is writing his laws in the minds and on the
hearts of all people. That means that all of us have the responsibility of
becoming as wise as we are able, and of shepherding all those whom God places
in our path. It is no longer the responsibility of the priest alone to know the
things of God. Priests, rather, are
called to be icons for everyone.
And so, we are drawn back to Ecclesiasticus. His advice about the need for leisure in order
to become wise applies to ALL scribes, all priests, and therefore ALL
believers. So – as well as returning to
your parishes to encourage your own priest to take time to become wise, I
charge you too: YOU need the time to
cultivate wisdom, AS WELL. So, lay aside
some of whatever business with which you fill your days. Leave the garden for a few hours. Turn off that TV. Neglect the laundry for a spell. Wash your car fortnightly, instead of weekly –
and take the time to become the harpooner, instead of the rower. Practice wisdom – so that when you are called
upon to offer advice to your family, your friends, your neighbours – you will
have a well of wisdom, carefully accumulated, from which to draw. THAT is all our calling. That is the calling of the priesthood of all
believers.
Amen.